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Seager supports staff in Desert Dogs' shutout

Seager supports staff in Desert Dogs' shutout

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By Teddy Cahill
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MLB.com |

Corey Seager is the youngest player in the Arizona Fall League this season, but he has held his own as a 19-year-old finishing his first full professional season.

Thursday, Seager scored two runs and drove in two more to help Glendale defeat Salt River, 6-0, at Salt River Field at Talking Stick. The victory gave Glendale back-to-back wins against Salt River and was the Desert Dogs' second shutout of the young season.

Seager's season began at Class A Great Lakes, and he earned a late-summer promotion to Class A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga. Now, the Dodgers' No. 2 prospect is competing against more experienced players in a league known as the finishing school for prospects.

Seager said he is pleased with his progress this year.

"I had a rough last month, but that's all right," Seager said. "Overall, I think the season went pretty well."

Seager scored Glendale's first run of the game Thursday. He led off the second inning with a single against right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who is ranked No. 20 on MLB.com's Top 100 prospect list. Seager scored four batters later on a sacrifice fly.

The next inning, Seager hit a two-run double off left-hander Tyler Matzek, the Rockies' No. 14 prospect and a former first-round Draft pick. Seager finished the night 2-for-4, raising his batting average to .278 and his on-base percentage to .381 in five games.

"I felt good," Seager said. "I got a couple good pitches to hit and put good swings on them."

Working with the lead, the Desert Dogs' pitching staff dominated the Rafters. Salt River managed just four hits and two walks against six Glendale pitchers. Right-hander Stephen McCray started the game with four no-hit innings before handing the ball over to the bullpen.

The Rafters' best scoring opportunity came in the ninth inning. Jake Lamb hit a one-out double and Kyle Parker followed with a single. But right-hander Kevin Vance recovered to strike out Tim Wheeler and get Ryan Brett to fly out to right field to complete the shutout.

Glendale also held Surprise scoreless last Thursday and now has two shutouts in its last six games.

"That's pretty impressive," Seager said. "[Glendale's pitchers are] throwing strikes, getting ahead, working down in the zone and throwing good pitches when they need to."

The Rafters' pitching staff wasn't able to match the Desert Dogs. Sanchez allowed two runs on three hits and two walks in two innings. One bright spot was left-hander Mike Montgomery. The Rays' No. 8 prospect threw two perfect innings and struck out four batters, including Seager.

Facing so many top pitchers hasn't fazed Seager. He said the AFL has been about what he expected it to be, full of some of the best prospects in the Minor Leagues.

And the youngest player in the league is doing his best not to overthink his fall in Arizona.

"I'm trying to play well and do as best I can," Seager said. "I'm trying to not really think about anything else."

Teddy Cahill is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter at @tedcahill. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.